Sunday, September 5, 2010

Wow, what an eventful week. We started it off with the first week back to school-Allison in 10th grade this year at Mt Hebron and Scott back at Resurrection in 5th grade. And all without Tom. He was off working in LA this past week. I was just glad he had the chance to take my brother Mike out for dinner a couple of nights and give him a job hunting pep talk. Mike sadly did not get the recent job he interviewed for, but things are tough all over. Don't give up yet Mike-you are just getting started.
Scott seems very excited about his new school year-sounds like they have some new programs planned. We will know more at the upcoming Back to School Night. Allison seems overwhelmed already, with back to school quizzes and projects, but so far she is keeping her head above water. We had to run out Monday night to pick up her school supplies-they don't tell the kids what to buy until they actually go to class. First we had a make up piano lesson Monday night since we were planning on being out of town over Labor Day weekend. Since we had such a late night I took the kids out to a chinese buffet for dinner. I think I spent the rest of the week filling out emergency papers and signing Policy and Procedure forms. I am trying to get a form signed by Allison's doctor allowing her to keep some allergy medicine with her to take before Field Hockey practice. We had one more grueling weather week-temps were in the upper 90s to low 100s this past week. They even called practice one hour early due to Code Red air quality. It may be that Allison has to leave her medication with the school nurse, but it would be better than nothing. Kids are not allowed to keep medication on them during school, even over the counter medication. They can be suspended if caught-even with something simple like aspirin. And heaven forbid they decide to share! Drug dealing at its best.
And speaking of weather, we also had our first hurricane of the season to affect our weather. Fortunately this one stayed far enough out on the ocean as not to interfere with our holiday plans. Thanks for calling Sandra to check up on us-we were headed to Williamsburg, VA when you called. We never saw a drop of rain. I think it helped keep the crowds down along the eastern shore(at least until Saturday). We had an incredible trip to Busch Gardens and the Water Park on Friday and Saturday. We arrived at Busch Gardens early Friday afternoon and there was hardly anyone in the park. It closed early-at 7pm, but since the crowds were so low, we were able to get on all our favorite rides without hardly a wait. We met up with our next door neighbors, the Zarlengas who were also vacationing there with their kids, Alex and Kelsey. On Friday night after the park closed we all went out for Chinese buffet(can never get enough Chinese food according to Allison) and then we stopped back at the Zarlenga's hotel so the kids could swim and we parents could have a night cap and chat. On Saturday we all went to the water park and had a great time. After wards we headed back into Busch Gardens for a British Rock Band Hermans Hermit concert with Peter Noone. For those like me not familiar with the band's name, perhaps you will remember some of their songs like "Love Potion #9", or "Do Wa Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Do(There she was justa walking down the street)", "Sea Cruise(Won't you let me take you on a Sea Cruise)"and "There's A Kind of Hush, All over the World, Tonite", and Tom's favorite "Henry the 8th". He also did a fabulous Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, Davey Jones and Mick Jaggar interpretation. And Peter Noone did a fabulous job entertaining all concert goers of all ages-by the end of the concert, he had little kids sitting up on the stage with him while he sat down and sang a song. (He also commented that it must be horrid being a teacher!). He had all of us laughing. And we were glad we got into the park for the rides on Friday since the place was absolutely packed by Saturday night. Our next visit will be for Halloween-they were already starting to put up the decorations.
On Sunday the kids had a quick dip in the pool before we stopped into the absolutely packed outlet mall. We were bargain hunting for school clothes and shoes(mostly for Allison). We managed to pick up a few things, but it certainly was crowded. We spent most of the day walking from store to store before heading home. Tom prefers to miss the Monday traffic rush, so we usually head back a day earlier. That way we have some time at home to work on projects before we all have to head off to work and school.
It certainly did not help that I caught a terrible cold this past weekend. It looks like the cold and flu season is upon us even before school got started. Our next door neighbor's daughter was ill with the flu last weekend, and residents at the Retirement center have been getting ill. We will all be in to the doctor's office soon for our flu shots(seems like we just got them!) And last season we had to get both the flu shot and swine flu shot!
I am not surprised I got sick. I really have been pushing my schedule. Last Weds I arranged to have Allison and Scott picked up from my neighbor after school and Field Hockey practice so I could get to my Dragon boat practice-the last one before our big day. And with the hurricane coming up the eastern shore, the water was very choppy. Plus we had a full boat and I was sure we were going in. I spent the whole two hours leaning into the center of the boat. Fortunately we stayed afloat, even though we took on quite a bit of water and we were all sopping wet. And lucky me, right after paddling for two hours I had to rush off to my GS Leader meeting. It was the first meeting of the year and I really did not want to miss it. I just sat in the back of the room with a beach towel wrapped around my waist. I wanted to make sure our Troop was registered since cookie sales start this Saturday, the 11th(hint hint). I already had one meeting of the girls and parents a few weeks ago at our house so everyone could fill out all the registration forms. I will be busy scheduling meetings for the girls from now on. And Scott will start Webelos II soon-next step is Boy Scouts.
So we are back to our extra busy schedules. I feel like I didn't get a break at all this summer-it just went by way too fast! Hope all of you can keep up too! Kathleen and family

No comments: